ONE of Scotland’s most famous criminal defence lawyers, Joe Beltrami, has passed away at the age of 83.

Mr Beltrami represented some of the country’s most notorious criminal figures in a career spanning 50 years and hundreds of murder trials.

Clients included Glasgow underworld figure Arthur Thompson and Jimmy Boyle, the gangland murderer who became an artist and author.

Police became accustomed to the cry from arrested suspects: “Get me Beltrami.”

He qualified as a solicitor in 1956 and is reckoned to have saved 12 clients from the hangman’s noose.

He helped secure two Royal Pardons, one for Paddy Meehan, who was released after serving seven years for a murder he did not commit, the other for Maurice Swanson, who had a conviction for bank robbery overturned.

When recognised for his lifetime of achievement at the Law Awards of Scotland in 2008, Mr Beltrami said he had instructed in more than 350 murder cases and appeared in every court in the country, from Shetland to Duns.

A statement from the firm he founded, Beltrami & Co, confirmed his death.

t is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our founder, the legendary Mr Joseph Beltrami

It read: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our founder, the legendary Mr Joseph Beltrami.

Sincere condolences to his family.” The Glasgow Bar Association said they joined with other colleagues in the profession in mourning the death of Mr Beltrami. Their statement added: “Joe was well known to all who practised at the Glasgow Bar.”

The Scottish Criminal Bar Association said it was “extremely sad” to learn of his death. Thomas Ross, the association’s president, said: “Perhaps the first lawyer in Scotland to specialise in criminal law, he laid the path for all of us to follow.

“No counsel instructed by him failed to learn from his guidance.

“Known fondly as ‘Big Joe’, he will never be forgotten.”

Born in Rutherglen to a Swiss father and Scottish mother, Mr Beltrami was brought up in Glasgow’s Briggait district.

In 2009, he was presented with an honorary life membership of the Law Society of Scotland.

Mr Beltrami, who lived in Bothwell, Lanarkshire, is survived by three sons and eight grandchildren.

All three of his sons went on to follow their father by taking up the law as their career.